Operation Beanstalk

Operation Beanstalk (22 December 1972) was one of the last combat operations of the United States in the Vietnam War, taking place three months after much of the US forces in Vietnam returned home. Occurring at the turn of a year where 24,200 US troops dwindled down to 50 troops, the operation cost 62 American lives while 100 Viet Cong were killed.

Background
After the resignation of President Richard Nixon and the near-success of the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong Easter Offensive, the United States withdrew troops at a quicker rate - in 1972, they had 24,200 troops, and a year later, they had only 50. While Vietnamization took its toll on the amount of available US troops in South Vietnam, President Gerald Ford permitted additional combat operations. Code-named "Beanstalk", a new operation took place in December 1972, which saw the United States send their forces on a search-and-destroy mission against Viet Cong troops filtering in from Cambodia. The operation was led by Major Ellson A. Parker and Sergeant Andrew P. Nash.

Operation
The US forces available for "Beanstalk" were small, so the American command had to take caution at the amount of casualties that they could afford. US troops performed poorly at first, suffering heavy losses due to their fatigue and demoralization, but napalm and mortar strikes were called in to weaken the Viet Cong troops hidden in the jungle and villages. In the end, 62 Americans and 100 Viet Cong were killed, a victory that the USA could barely afford.